Climate change policy analyst

Climate Change Policy Analysts research, analyze and develop policy related to climate change and make climate-related recommendations for legislation, long-range plans and community education and awareness campaigns, and funding opportunities.

Quick facts : Climate change policy analyst

2021 Median Pay $76,480 per year; $36.77 per hour

Typical Entry-Level Education Master's degree

Number of Jobs, 2021 80,000

Job outlook 4-7% (average)

Employment Change, 2021-31 7,800

Climate change policy analysts provide analytical support to policy briefs on diverse topics tied to climate change, including location efficiency, nature-based solutions, renewable energy and energy efficiency, climate and environmental justice, resource scarcity, resiliency, and more. They support research and policy development to further local climate mitigation and adaptation goals.

Climate change policy analysts review existing federal, state, and local policies for implementation in their community or municipality. They make legislative recommendations related to climate change or environmental management, creating an outlet for the implementation of further regulations related to green building and sustainable development. Climate change policy analysts are typically tasked with contributing to sustainability plans or projects that can aid in the wider development of green, high-performance buildings, communities, and cities.

How to become a climate change policy analyst

Climate change policy analyst positions tend to require a form of graduate school, often a master’s degree. The minimum education requirement is a bachelor's degree in environmental science, building science, public administration, urban planning, construction management, climate science, or another related field.

Technological skills that are important for success in the position include analytical or scientific software, geographic information systems, and presentation software. Along with technological skills, it is important for one to have strong reading comprehension, active listening, critical thinking, speaking, and writing skills. Another key skill to have in this position is the ability to synthesize large, often complex, legislation or technical problems into easy-to-understand briefs for non-technical staff and community members.

Many municipal government departments contribute to a city or town’s sustainability efforts and can offer opportunities to move into sustainability-specific roles. These departments include parks & recreation, urban forestry, public works, transportation, housing, planning and design, and waste management – among others.

• Environmental scientists and specialists, including health
• Project manager or coordinator in a climate or sustainability office
• Special projects coordinator in a mayor’s office
• Intern or fellow in a sustainability, climate or resilience office
• Work for an NGO as a program coordinator in any of the functional areas that tie to climate
• Urban or land use planner
• Natural resources management
• Consultant

Education and resources

Access courses and resources to learn about green building and sustainability concepts related to climate change policy.

Stay up to date on the latest developments in green building through access to online courses with an annual subscription to the USGBC course catalog.

Resources

Explore resources to support a career in climate change policy.

LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Available for virtually all building types, LEED provides a framework for healthy, highly-efficient, and cost-saving green buildings. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership.

Climate change policy analysts would most likely serve as consultants or government liaisons in LEED projects, especially for the Neighborhood Development or Cities and Communities rating systems. Policy analysts can provide assessments and projections based on comparative analysis with other locations or by developing policies, codes, and ordinances that influence and encourage sustainable development. Implementation of analyses and recommendations on a municipal or state-wide scale will have impacts on green building projects in those jurisdictions, even if they are not actively involved in specific projects.

How we build today will define tomorrow. LEED v5 sets a new standard for sustainable building. Currently available for BD+C, ID+C, and O+M.

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